Clinical and serological tests for arboviruses in free-living domestic pigeons (Columba livia)



Document title: Clinical and serological tests for arboviruses in free-living domestic pigeons (Columba livia)
Journal: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
Database: PERIÓDICA
System number: 000413836
ISSN: 0074-0276
Authors: 1
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Institutions: 1Universidade Federal do Para, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Belem, Para. Brasil
2Instituto Evandro Chagas, Setor de Arbovirologia e Febres Hemorragicas, Ananindeua, Para. Brasil
3Parque Naturalistico Mangal das Garcas, Setor Veterinario, Belem, Para. Brasil
4Universidade Federal Rural da Amazonia, Instituto da Saude e Producao Animal, Belem, Para. Brasil
Year:
Season: Ago
Volumen: 112
Number: 8
Pages: 532-536
Country: Brasil
Language: Inglés
Document type: Artículo
Approach: Experimental, aplicado
English abstract In this study, we evaluated the role of free-living domestic pigeons (Columba livia) as a reservoir of arboviruses in the city of Belém, state of Pará, Brazil. We investigated the presence of antibodies against the most prevalent arboviruses. OBJECTIVES This study was aimed at evaluating some clinical and physical parameters of domestic pigeons, including the presence of antibodies to Amazon-endemic arboviruses. METHODS Eighty-five healthy pigeons were captured in Mangal das Garças Park, in Belém, and were bled. Upon capture, the birds were subjected to a clinical examination in search of alterations that could indicate the presence of arboviruses. Blood samples were converted to serum and tested using the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) technique with a panel of 19 antigens of arboviruses circulating in the Amazon. The confirmation assay for the positive reactions to the viral species tested by HI was a neutralisation test in new-born Swiss albino mice (Mus musculus) [mouse neutralisation test (MNT)]. FINDINGS A total of 10 (11.8%) serum samples tested positive for antiflavivirus antibodies by HI. All the samples positive for the HI test were subjected to MNT for detection of viruses and yielded negative results (logarithmic neutralisation index < 1.7). MAIN CONCLUSION The results represent the first serological detection of antiarbovirus antibodies in domestic pigeons as potential hosts of arboviruses in Brazil. The detection of haemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies against genus Flavivirus indicated that there was recent contact between the analysed domestic pigeons and these arboviruses. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of free-living pigeons in the maintenance cycle and spread of arboviruses in the Amazon
Disciplines: Medicina
Keyword: Microbiología,
Virus,
Aves,
Arbovirus,
Mecanismos de infección,
Reservorios animales,
Pichones,
Pruebas serológicas
Keyword: Medicine,
Microbiology,
Virus,
Birds,
Arbovirus,
Infection mechanisms,
Animal reservoirs,
Pigeons,
Serological tests
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